I Resolve ... Problem Solved

Sometimes life seems so long. Despite the frequent claims of the apocalypse, a new day dawns without fail, and here I am to face it. I awoke this morning from a miserable dream and made my way downstairs for a cup of coffee. The pain in my lower back reminds me that I must stretch or there will be hell to pay. The cat is leading the way to his food bowl, and the dog cannot wait another second to go outside. There's laundry on the floor and dishes in the sink. Scraps of last night's movie snacks are still on the coffee table. Here we go. Another day.

My thoughts turn to the circumstances in my life, others' lives, and the world as I begin to wash the dishes and gaze out the window. Nothing seems especially good right now. My subconscious is on a roll, and everywhere it turns there is conflict, pain, and drama. I start imagining ways that I can fix the situations, and a few times I'm certain a particular plan will work. But my mind is not convinced, so it keeps on spinning until I am feeling confused and uncertain as to what I am to do. Finally, my eyes begin to focus on my immediate surroundings, and they fall and settle upon a small rock on the ledge of the window. It is a rock that my youngest daughter painted in elementary school a million years ago. It simply says: "God."

I smile as I realize that my focus has been on every problem I can think of, but I have not for one moment focused on the solution. Imagine the possibilities if I spend all of my waking hours focusing always on God. I keep proving to myself time and time again that my ways do not work. The changes I seek do not come from anywhere other than God. Believe me, I've tried. This morning I was graced with the realization that all of these things I am obsessing on are becoming my God. St. Paul's letter to the Colossians says: "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." And St. Luke tells me to: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind." If you don't believe them, maybe you'll believe Einstein. He said: "When the solution is simple, God is answering." There it is -- the solution -- pure and simple. Today I will focus on the solution, not the problem.